Spook tapped on the more information screen, making the game show him a detailed description of what he had just exactly acquired.

[ developed

Effect: Strengthens the body and allows for ‘Evolution’

The Scaling Skeleton effect has modified your body so that you will grow stronger as you consume more Scaling Ingredients. Scaling Ingredients can be found throughout the world of Inside Online. Eating these delicious foods will improve your abilities. Available only to Player Spook.]

[ (Rank 1) developed

Effect: Grants a +1% immunity bonus to paralysis. Scales up as you improve it.]

[ (Rank 1) improved

Effect: Grants the player +5% damage reduction to physical and elemental attacks.]

He had acquired another set of helpful skills. Consuming the mimic tongue had given him two new abilities: Marrow Cells and Paralysis Resistance. Paralysis Resistance was relatively straightforward as Spook was familiar with the skill concept. But it was the new things that piqued his interest.

Evolution and Scaling Ingredients.

From what I understand, Scaling Ingredients are things found inside the game that only I can see. Consuming Scaling Ingredients will empower my Marrow Cells and will make me stronger. If I eat enough and reach a certain point, then I’ll evolve. Though I have no idea what that entails yet.

Spook concluded that the game wanted him to improve in a very unconventional way. Usually, players would upgrade their characters and progress through the game by leveling and completing quests. However, thanks to his unique Scaling Skeleton effect, his options were much different since he could get stronger by eating Scaling Ingredients.

“Imagine being a skeleton, but having unlimited potential,” Spook chuckled to himself, amused by his current situation. His initial doubts and worries about being a skeleton had vanished. He was excited to move onto the next zone and explore the vast world of Inside Online.

He proceeded to dig up the remaining graves around him. Luckily, there were no more mimics to be found. Spook ended up discovering two caskets that ended up being empty, a sack of currency containing 20 copper coins, and a clothed corpse. He half expected the corpse to move when he uncovered a grinning skeletal face, but nothing happened. It seemed like he was the only living skeleton around.

[Life Skill: has been improved since you have robbed a grave.

Life Skill: has been improved since you have robbed a grave.

Life Skill: has been improved since you have robbed a grave.

Life Skill: has been improved since you have robbed a grave.

Current: (Rank 1) 10%]

There wasn’t much he could work with around here. He needed to explore more.

According to the map tab, he was located in neutral territory on the continent called Stone. To the east was the continent called the Light Lands and to the west was the Dark Lands. After reaching level 30, players were allowed to choose to join the Light or Dark faction by talking to the Faction Leader NPC on their respective continents.

Aligning with a faction brought benefits such as passive perks or unlocking secret quests. Players took it upon themselves to fight for their faction’s glory, which led to a lot of bloodshed in the game. However, it was not uncommon for players from both factions to cooperate for difficult raids or events. There were even players that never chose a faction, opting to play the game without Light or Dark faction benefits.

That being said, Spook was nowhere close to being level 30. He didn’t even know if he wanted to join a faction when he hit the requirements. He had heard tales about players being consumed by the daily quests required by factions, stealing away precious game time.

Speaking of time, almost two hours had already passed since he logged into the game. Unfortunately for Inside Online, time compression wasn’t a feature. One minute in the game was a minute in real life. This meant that the casual player could only play a couple of hours. Of course, there was always the exception of the more hardcore gamers, playing upwards of up to ten hours a day.

As for Spook, he still had real-life responsibilities to attend to. He needed to work and make money so that he could continue to see another day. Thankfully, it was a Friday. That meant staying up late into the wee hours of early morning.

Returning his focus to the world map, he searched around the nearby area, hoping to find some sort of town or village he could visit.

Bingo.

A village called Jot was very close by. Spook assumed the cemetery he was in was likely used by the villagers. The village would be his first destination.

The problem was, he was wearing nothing.

Judging by his appearance, he had no doubts the villagers would be frightened by him. He needed something to cover him up.

“Sorry friend,” said Spook as he pulled the clothes off the grinning corpse. The clothes were old and thin, but it would get the job done. A long hooded cloak covered his face and he hid his bony hands inside the long sleeves of the tunic. There wasn’t a mirror around, but he knew he looked rather strange with how the clothes hung off his skeletal frame.

I need to visit the blacksmith NPC and buy some armor or a robe. That should hide my appearance fairly well. I don’t think people will take too kindly to seeing a skeleton walking around freely. At least, that’s the impression I got from those two players.

Satisfied with his makeshift cover, he left the cemetery behind and ran towards the village of Jot. Characters in Inside Online didn’t get tired, so there was no penalty whatsoever. Only death was the real known penalty in the game.

In a matter of minutes, Spook arrived at the front gate of Jot. It was a rather small place from what he could see, maybe around two apartment complexes wide and not a single building with more than two floors. The shops were painted a pleasant white and emerald green color, and the streets were paved with stone. It wasn’t too shabby overall for a small village. NPCs were milling about going about their day. There were also a few players walking around as Spook could tell by the name tags above their heads. He wanted to avoid those people for now.

Making his way to the blacksmith, he stepped inside. A wave of heat blasted Spook in the face as he entered. If he were human, he had no doubts he would be sweating right now.

“Hello there! How can I help you, traveler!” A burly man stepped out from the back of the shop. A tag identifying him as NPC John appeared above the man’s head.

“I’m looking to purchase some equipment,” said Spook. He dug out his copper coins and laid them on the counter. “What can I buy with these?”

John took a glance at the copper coins and gestured in the air.

A shop interface popped up in front of Spook, allowing him to see what kind of items he could afford. To his surprise, the prices were relatively cheap, ranging from 2-4 coppers apiece. The more expensive ones were around 50 coppers to 1 silver coin.

Spook scrolled through the list, picking out a set of leather armor and shoes. The total came to 14 copper coins which Spook gladly handed over. He was still missing something for his face though.

[Leather chest plate equipped: +3 defense

Leather pants equipped: +2 defense

Leather boots equipped: +1 defense

Leather gloves equipped: +1 defense

(4/4) Leather set bonus: +5 evasion ]

“Do you happen to have anything that can cover the face? Like a helmet or a mask?” Spook inquired. He didn’t want to wear the hooded cloak any longer, it was too old and dirty. Plus it didn’t fit well with his pugilist style. He didn’t want a flowy piece of fabric getting in his way when he fought.

“Well, there is this one piece I received a week ago. But so far, no one’s bought it since there’s a slight issue with it . . .” John trailed off, drumming his hands methodically on the counter. Spook saw the NPC give him a slight glance before looking away.

“What kind of issue?” probed Spook. He was curious now.

“You’ll understand when you see it,” John grimaced as he left the room. A moment later he returned with a covered item in his hands. The smith placed it on the counter and pulled the veil away.

It was a helmet.

“I don’t see anything wro--” Spook cut off, interrupted by the pair of dark smokey horns that suddenly sprouted from the top of the helmet.

John sighed. “As you can see, it’s cursed.”